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Confidence in team-first mentality key for Colorado Springs Switchbacks in championship seasonOcado is ridiculed by customers over 'atrocious' Christmas substitute choices items after retailer suffers delivery malfunctionJimmy Carter, the longest-lived American president died on Sunday, the accolades flowed in emails from Connecticut lawmakers and elected officials, many of whom knew the former president. Carter, was a peanut farmer who won the presidency in the wake of the Watergate scandal and Vietnam War, endured humbling defeat after one tumultuous term and then redefined life after the White House as a global humanitarian, has died. He was 100. He died more than a year after entering hospice care, at his home in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he and his wife, Rosalynn, who died at 96 in November 2023, spent most of their lives, The Carter Center said. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said Sunday, “President Carter leaves us just when we need his spirit more than ever. But as an American, and a kid who grew up during his presidency, I am ever grateful that Jimmy Carter showed us the way. A way forward for America that is just and fair, and takes care of each other. “A way for a human being to serve other people as completely and vigorously as he did. I am not sure we’ll ever see another Jimmy Carter in my lifetime. But for our sake, I desperately hope that we do,” Tong said. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, said Carter appointed him U.S. Attorney for Connecticut. “Jimmy Carter was a public servant for all seasons—leading by example, passionately and unstintingly, over deeply different and sometimes difficult phases of his life and the nation’s,” Blumenthal said. “The diversity and longevity of his public service is staggering—as a military officer, Governor and President, home builder, health care activist, and much more. He certainly showed that leadership in elected office is only one of many ways to give back to our great nation. He believed fervently in the opportunity and obligation of every single person to make a difference and better the lives of others. I’ll always be grateful for his appointing me as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut, which is how I first came to know him. U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2, said he spoke on the House Floor recounting Carter’s exceptional service, including in the U.S. Navy, and his connection to Connecticut. “America lost a great man today. President Jimmy Carter personified the highest form of public service, not just as Governor and President, but as an ensign in the U.S. Navy who rose to be one of Admiral Hyman G. Rickover’s select officers at the birth of the ‘Nuclear Navy,'” Courtney said. “In 2005, when the Navy sought to close Submarine Base New London, former President Carter stood by ‘Team Connecticut’ in opposition to a plan which would have moved the Base’s fleet to his home state of Georgia. His decision to support ‘Team Connecticut’ in the face of political pressure at home represents the integrity and honor he served with throughout his life. Today, eastern Connecticut maintains our proud role as Submarine Capital of the World thanks to former President Carter. I join the American people in sending my deepest condolences and gratitude to the Carter family for his lifetime of service.” U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes, D-5, said, “Today, our nation mourns the passing of Nobel laureate and former President Jimmy Carter. “During his presidency and in the decades after, President Carter served as an advocate for peace, human rights, and democracy,” she said. “His work with Habitat for Humanity inspired me to introduce my students to service and has helped build strength, stability and self reliance for so many through shelter.” “My thoughts and prayers are with the Carter family during this time and I thank him for his lifetime of service.” U.S. Senator Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said, “Few people have modeled what it means to live a life dedicated to the service of others more than President Jimmy Carter. “He led with compassion, humility, and moral clarity even when it came at a political cost. Helping others was his calling, and President Carter didn’t need the White House to change millions of lives. From his work at the Carter Center to volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, he worked every day to build a more just world. “In a 1979 speech, President Carter warned the nation we have two paths to choose from – one toward fragmentation and self-interest and another toward common purpose. It’s a warning that rings true still today. “My heart is with the Carter family as the nation mourns the loss of a giant.” Gov. Ned Lamont said, “President Carter will be remembered in history as one of our nation’s most humble presidents, whose honorable service to the United States began when he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed for several years in Connecticut at Naval Submarine Base New London. “Upon being elected to office as governor of Georgia and continuing throughout his presidency, he championed many of the biggest and most notable causes of the era, including desegregation, human rights, early childhood development programs, prison reform, and more. He has one of the most noteworthy and prominent post-presidency careers of any U.S. president, volunteering his time on the international stage to provide diplomatic and peacekeeping efforts in places such as Israel, Palestine, North Korea, South Africa, and Syria, and maintaining an active level of involvement as an advocate for Habitat for Humanity to promote for the availability of housing for all. “President Carter’s style of leadership set an example that ought to be emulated by public officials nationwide, most notably his self-effacing and kind disposition. He carried himself with grace and integrity, treated others with dignity and respect regardless of whether they were a political ally or foe, and above all worked to implement policies that make our country a more equitable place for all to live and thrive. On behalf of the State of Connecticut, I extend my deepest condolences to the Carter family. Our hearts are with them at this time of mourning, and we thank them for everything they have given to our country.” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said, “Jimmy Carter represented the best of us. A man of generosity, patience – and above all, kindness. I had the privilege of witnessing those qualities firsthand when in 1978, President Carter joined Governor Ella Grasso in Hartford to fundraise for her second term. “As a student journalist for my high school newspaper, I met President Carter during that visit. He was very patient and took the time to answer my questions. The following year, his press secretary Jody Powell was kind enough to invite our high school newspaper to attend a presidential press conference at the White House. Experiences like these are what ultimately inspired me to pursue a career in public service, law, and advocacy. “Throughout his presidency, and even after he left office, President Carter was known for committing his time and talents to the service of others. He made democracy and human rights a central focus – consistently focused on peacekeeping and diplomacy efforts. As a former secretary of the state, I always appreciated his work to promote free and fair elections in our country and around the world. Led by his faith to help the less fortunate, President Carter dedicated countless hours to building homes with Habitat for Humanity. “Jimmy Carter was a man from humble beginnings who went on to change the world. He will be remembered for his unwavering commitment to his country, his steadfast belief in democracy, and ultimately his kindness and sacrifice. My heart goes out to his family.” The Associated Press Contributed to this post.

After the Mozi botnet mysteriously disappeared last year, a new and seemingly more powerful botnet, Androxgh0st, rose from its ashes and has quickly become a major threat to critical infrastructure. As of December, at least one security shop suspects the new hybrid botnet is being weaponized by the Chinese government. "Based on the available information, we can ascertain with low confidence that the Androxgh0st botnet is being operated by Chinese threat actors that are driven by similar interests as that of the Chinese state," CloudSEK researcher Koushik Pal told The Register . Check Point, meanwhile, rated Androxgh0st as the most prevalent malware globally, and said it affected 5 percent of organizations worldwide during November. The added Mozi capabilities allow Androxgh0st to control a much broader range of targets than it did at the beginning of the year, and "these attacks create cascading effects across industries, highlighting the high stakes for governments, businesses, and individuals reliant on these infrastructures," according to Check Point's Most Wanted Malware report. Botnets, a favorite of Beijing-backed attackers , are especially insidious, and this one's ability to target both web servers and IoT devices expands its reach. After exploiting a vulnerability to deploy a payload on the victim device, that device becomes part of the botnet, which can then be used to break into other critical networks, perform large-scale DDoS attacks, and conduct mass surveillance and data theft operations. The malware targets Windows, Mac, and Linux systems, and does not show any signs of slowing down in 2025. "The integration of Mozi's capabilities within Androxgh0st means that we are going to see an uptick in mass exploitations," Pal said. "We can expect Androxgh0st to be exploiting at least 75 percent to 100 percent more web application vulnerabilities by mid-2025 than it is exploiting now." CloudSEK was among the first threat hunting teams to spot the integration with Mozi, which came as a surprise to infosec watchers after someone – suspected to be either Chinese law enforcement or the botnet's creator – flipped the kill switch on Mozi in August 2023. In its heyday, Mozi, which emerged in 2019, accounted for about 90 percent of malicious IoT network traffic globally, exploiting vulnerabilities in hundreds of thousands of connected devices each year. "Around mid-2024, we started noticing payloads that were part of the Androxgh0st exploitation chain with Mozi payloads targeting TP-Link routers," Pal said. "Funny story, the threat actors had renamed the payload as 'tplink0day' in a few cases, but our investigation revealed that it was a decade-old firmware exploit under the wrappers." By November, Androxgh0st was exploiting vulnerabilities in dozens of technologies including VPNs, firewalls, routers, and web applications to infect hundreds of thousands of platforms. These include Cisco ASA, Atlassian JIRA, Sophos Firewalls, Spring Cloud Gateways, PHP frameworks, plus several IoT devices. "Mozi makes their botnet much, much bigger," Sergey Shykevich, threat intelligence group manager at Check Point, told The Register . "It allows them not to target only specific servers and extract specific files, but now they have the option to target any router, camera, and all such devices that are extremely unprotected. IoT devices are one of the easiest things to attack," he noted. The FBI and CISA first sounded the alarm on Androxgh0st in January. At the time, the feds said the cloud credential-stealing botnet was primarily using three old and long-since patched CVEs to obtain initial access. "Androxgh0st originally had a very specific skill," Shykevich said. "It targeted web servers and tried to extract sensitive data files." Specifically, the Python-scripted malware would scan for [.]env files that contain user credentials for AWS, Microsoft Office 365, SendGrid, and Twilio. In addition to scanning and harvesting credentials, it could also deploy webshells on compromised servers. "This was one attack vector, and it was very useful. It allowed the operators to get credentials for different resources," Shykevich said. By August, CloudSEK started seeing the malware operators also deploying IoT-focused Mozi payloads, and infection rates have increased since then. "It's nearly a 30-70 split between IoT devices and web applications," as of early December, Pal said. Between January and August, the number of CVEs being exploited by Androxgh0st skyrocketed. "We have seen a sharp rise – about 100 percent – in the number of vulnerabilities exploited by Androxgh0st, indicating that the threat group is more focused on weaponization of some of the newer exploits in the wild," he said. The security shop initially reported its Androxgh0st findings in November, documenting 11 vulnerabilities that the criminals exploited to gain initial access. In a December update to the research, CloudSEK noted 27. Since releasing its initial report on the hybrid botnet, the threat hunters also documented an increase in Androxgh0st targeting tech that is primarily used in China. "We have observed that the threat actors operating the botnet had targeted a hospital from Hong Kong in July 2023, which coincides with the victimology of Chinese APTs such as APT41 and Tonto Team," according to the report, which links the uptick in Androxgh0st's targeting to an increase in mass surveillance efforts by the Chinese government. "As we have seen in the i-soon leaks, the APT market is cluttered with many different private companies who can provide ' pentesting and red-teaming services ' to the state to aid their interests," Pal said. "We are looking at a trend where the threat actors are regularly updating their arsenal with the most recent exploits that can be easily exploited." ®AP News Summary at 3:42 p.m. ESTDURHAM, N.C. — Duke's Cooper Flagg knows what's coming from older and stronger defenders. So too does Auburn coach Bruce Pearl when it comes to the pressure facing his frontcourt star, Johni Broome. On Wednesday night, the two preseason Associated Press All-Americans headlined a heavyweight matchup worthy of March, though from very different positions: Flagg as the 17-year-old touted freshman mentioned as a possible No. 1 overall NBA draft pick long before showing up on campus, Broome as the 22-year-old fifth-year senior who started his career at a mid-major. Yet they're each shouldering the burden of top billing on a team with national title aspirations, all on display as the ninth-ranked Blue Devils beat the second-ranked Tigers 84-78 in the ACC/SEC Challenge. The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg finished with a game-high 22 points and 11 rebounds with four assists, three steals and two blocks. The 6-10 240-pound Broome had 20 points, 12 rebounds and three assists before fouling out late. They didn't match up directly, but remained the gravitational force at the center of everything — from offensive plans to collapsing defenses — all the same. For Flagg, it was sign of big-game growth after late stumbles in losses to Kentucky and Kansas, along with handling the physical play of the Tigers. "That's something I'm going to start to see more and more," Flagg said. "It's definitely going to be a game plan for the other team, just to try and be physical with me. I think that's something that I've been dealing with since I was in sixth, seventh grade. People look at me and think they can just out-tough me, be more physical with me, and it would take me out the game. "But I've just got to keep playing through it, keep learning how to use that against them and just keep getting better." He did that against the veteran-laden Tigers, scoring 16 points and drawing seven fouls while getting to the line nine times after halftime. He felt several of those, too, such as Chaney Johnson's off-ball bump that knocked him to the hardwood midway through the second half and left him wincing. "I told him all week: 'They're going at you the whole time,'" junior teammate Tyrese Proctor said. "They had a couple of dirty plays. I just told him to keep his head composed and poised and just trust himself." Flagg pushed through regardless and showed some of his smooth moves, particularly in the second half. A dribble drive into the lane for a fallaway jumper over 6-11 big man Dylan Cardwell; pouncing on a defensive switch to drive and easily score over 6-4 guard Denver Jones; a spinning drop-step score in the paint while being fouled, leaving Pearl staring at officials and pointing to the Tigers' end of the court about an earlier no-call. Flagg also had no turnovers in his 37 minutes, a reversal after losing late turnovers in the losses to the Wildcats and Jayhawks. "To be able to coach him, he never fights you," Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. "He just never fights you. In a game, you can get on him. In practice he's always wanting to get better and in every aspect of his game. "I've always felt like Cooper's a one-time guy. He needs to experience something one time to get adjusted." As for Broome, he was coming off a dominating run through the Maui Invitational that made him the AP men's college basketball national player of the week Tuesday. Auburn also jumped two spots in Monday's latest AP Top 25, erasing nearly all of top-ranked Kansas' previous margin on the No. 2-ranked team. And that made the Tigers just the second top-2 nonconference team to play in Cameron Indoor Stadium since 1965 and first since top-ranked Michigan's "Fab Five" lost here December 1992 — exactly 32 years ago Thursday. Broome, who played his first two college seasons at Morehead State, offered matchup concerns with his ability to handle the ball on the perimeter, alter shots and attack the glass. And he was unbothered by the hostility of Duke's famously rambunctious "Cameron Crazies" fans, staring at them through much of pregame warmups with a grin and even laughing multiple times. He didn't shoot well early (2 for 9 in the first half) but started thriving in the pick-and-roll after halftime with Duke's defense stretched by Auburn's 3-point shooters. He nearly had a double-double in the second half (15 points, nine rebounds), including when he finished at the rim through Mason Gillis' foul and knocked Gillis to the ground — then gave him a lengthy stare as he stood over him. Broome led the Tigers until fouling out with 15 seconds left with Blue Devils fans starting to chant "Our house! Our house!" to mark another home win in their famed arena. He never flinched, even in the face of Auburn's first loss. "I think he's handled (the pressure) really well," Pearl said. "One of the reasons our team has played well so far this year is Johni's been a tremendously consistent player. Clearly a (national) player of the year candidate. If our team continues to win, he's our best player. ... He's able to do it on both ends, and he's able to do it inside and out."

President-elect Donald Trump's repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent the app's impending ban in the United States, though the path forward remains unclear. "We got to keep this sucker around for a little while," Trump told supporters on Sunday, just days after meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in Florida. Trump, who credits the wildly popular platform with delivering him a large young user base, opposes banning TikTok partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company behind Instagram and Facebook. The situation is complex, according to University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias, given the various potential solutions and Trump's unpredictable nature. Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed by President Joe Biden in April, that would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake by January 19. US officials and lawmakers grew wary of the potential for the Chinese government to influence ByteDance or access the data of TikTok's American users. Even with Trump's decisive election victory and incoming Republican-led Congress, acquiescing to the president-elect's desire and preventing the ban faces significant hurdles. The law enjoyed rare bipartisan support in a divided Washington, making its outright repeal through a vote in Congress politically unlikely even with Trump's influence over Republicans. The Supreme Court may offer the clearest path forward. TikTok has appealed to the nation's highest court, arguing the law violates First Amendment rights to free speech. The court, which is dominated by Trump-aligned conservatives, will hear the case on January 10, just nine days before the ban takes effect. This follows a lower appeals court's unanimous decision to uphold the law in December. Another possibility, according to Tobias, is that a Trump-led Department of Justice could determine ByteDance has addressed the law's national security concerns. However, such a move would likely be seen as caving to China by Congress and others. The final option is ByteDance selling to a non-Chinese buyer, though the company has consistently refused this possibility. With 170 million monthly active users, acquiring TikTok's US operations would require substantial resources. As president, Trump could extend the ban deadline by 90 days to facilitate a transaction. Few potential buyers have emerged, with major tech companies likely deterred by antitrust concerns. Former Trump Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who runs a private equity fund backed by Japan's SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, has expressed interest. During a recent event with Trump, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son pledged to invest $100 billion in the US economy, though specific investments weren't detailed. Other contenders include US real estate billionaire Frank McCourt, who aims to make social media safer through his Project Liberty organization. Elon Musk, given his proximity to Trump and ownership of X, could also have a role to play, as he has expressed plans to transform the text-focused platform into something more like TikTok. A senior Republican lawmaker recently suggested Trump might orchestrate a "deal of the century" satisfying both US concerns and ByteDance's interests. The chairman of the US House committee on China, John Moolenaar, told Fox News Digital that once ByteDance accepts it must comply with US law, the situation could progress rapidly. Any agreement would need Beijing's approval, with US-China relations expected to remain tense during Trump's upcoming term. This isn't the first attempt to resolve TikTok's US status. In 2020, Trump also threatened a ban unless ByteDance sold its US operations. While Oracle and Walmart reached a preliminary agreement with ByteDance for ownership stakes, legal challenges and the transition to the Biden administration prevented the deal's completion. arp/mlmPresident-elect Donald Trump's repeated support for TikTok has sparked speculation about potential solutions to prevent the app's impending ban in the United States, though the path forward remains unclear. "We got to keep this sucker around for a little while," Trump told supporters on Sunday, just days after meeting with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in Florida. Trump, who credits the wildly popular platform with delivering him a large young user base, opposes banning TikTok partly because he believes it would primarily benefit Meta, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company behind Instagram and Facebook. The situation is complex, according to University of Richmond School of Law professor Carl Tobias, given the various potential solutions and Trump's unpredictable nature. Congress overwhelmingly passed legislation, signed by President Joe Biden in April, that would block TikTok from US app stores and web hosting services unless Beijing-based ByteDance sells its stake by January 19. US officials and lawmakers grew wary of the potential for the Chinese government to influence ByteDance or access the data of TikTok's American users. Even with Trump's decisive election victory and incoming Republican-led Congress, acquiescing to the president-elect's desire and preventing the ban faces significant hurdles. The law enjoyed rare bipartisan support in a divided Washington, making its outright repeal through a vote in Congress politically unlikely even with Trump's influence over Republicans. The Supreme Court may offer the clearest path forward. TikTok has appealed to the nation's highest court, arguing the law violates First Amendment rights to free speech. The court, which is dominated by Trump-aligned conservatives, will hear the case on January 10, just nine days before the ban takes effect. This follows a lower appeals court's unanimous decision to uphold the law in December. Another possibility, according to Tobias, is that a Trump-led Department of Justice could determine ByteDance has addressed the law's national security concerns. However, such a move would likely be seen as caving to China by Congress and others. The final option is ByteDance selling to a non-Chinese buyer, though the company has consistently refused this possibility. With 170 million monthly active users, acquiring TikTok's US operations would require substantial resources. As president, Trump could extend the ban deadline by 90 days to facilitate a transaction. Few potential buyers have emerged, with major tech companies likely deterred by antitrust concerns. Former Trump Treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who runs a private equity fund backed by Japan's SoftBank Group and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala sovereign wealth fund, has expressed interest. During a recent event with Trump, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son pledged to invest $100 billion in the US economy, though specific investments weren't detailed. Other contenders include US real estate billionaire Frank McCourt, who aims to make social media safer through his Project Liberty organization. Elon Musk, given his proximity to Trump and ownership of X, could also have a role to play, as he has expressed plans to transform the text-focused platform into something more like TikTok. A senior Republican lawmaker recently suggested Trump might orchestrate a "deal of the century" satisfying both US concerns and ByteDance's interests. The chairman of the US House committee on China, John Moolenaar, told Fox News Digital that once ByteDance accepts it must comply with US law, the situation could progress rapidly. Any agreement would need Beijing's approval, with US-China relations expected to remain tense during Trump's upcoming term. This isn't the first attempt to resolve TikTok's US status. In 2020, Trump also threatened a ban unless ByteDance sold its US operations. While Oracle and Walmart reached a preliminary agreement with ByteDance for ownership stakes, legal challenges and the transition to the Biden administration prevented the deal's completion. arp/mlmRomanian politicians have voted in favour of a new pro-European coalition government led by incumbent Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu. The move could usher in an end to a protracted political crisis in the European Union country following the annulment of a presidential election by a top court. Parliament approved the new administration in a 240-143 vote in Romania’s 466-seat legislature. The new coalition is made up of the leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) the centre-right National Liberal Party (PNL), the small ethnic Hungarian UDMR party and national minorities. It caps a month-long period of turmoil in which far-right nationalists made significant gains in a parliamentary election on December 1 a week after a first-round presidential race saw the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu emerge as the front-runner. “It will not be an easy mandate for the future government,” Mr Ciolacu, whose PSD party topped the polls in the parliamentary election, said in a statement. “We are aware that we are in the midst of a deep political crisis,” he said. “It is also a crisis of trust, and this coalition aims to regain the trust of citizens, the trust of the people.” Romania’s 16 ministerial positions will be shared among the parties, which will hold a slim majority in the legislature. It is widely seen as a tactical partnership to shut out far-right nationalists whose voices found fertile ground amid high living costs and a sluggish economy. Mr Ciolacu, who came third in the first-round presidential ballot despite polls indicating he would win the most votes, has served as prime minister since June 2023. After parliament’s approval, President Klaus Iohannis swore in the new government and warned the new Cabinet that it is entering a “difficult new period” in which “for many Romanians, there are major concerns”. Romania was plunged into turmoil after Mr Georgescu’s surprise success in the presidential race, after allegations of electoral violations and Russian interference emerged. Days before the December 8 run-off, the Constitutional Court made the unprecedented move to annul the presidential race. “We go through complicated times, but I think we all learned from mistakes of the past,” Mr Ciolacu said. “I hope that together with my colleagues in the coalition, we’ll find the best solutions to get past the challenges we have in front of us.” Mr Ciolacu said that the new government would aim to quickly organise the rerun of the presidential election in which the new coalition has agreed to put forward an agreed common pro-European candidate. Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, said that the new government made up of the same political parties will likely embrace “soft populist” rhetoric such as economic patriotism, anti-austerity, and a peace solution in neighbouring Ukraine to counter the rise of far-right populism. “This will be a way to answer the concerns of many Romanians who voted for populists... but will not solve the fundamental problem of trust,” he said. “The only decisive factor now will be who and how convincing the pro-European candidates will be against this popular revolt.” George Simion, the leader of the far-right Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, which came second in the parliamentary election, said that all politicians from his party on Monday would vote against the Ciolacu government. In 2021, the PSD and the PNL also formed an unlikely but increasingly strained coalition together with UDMR, which exited the Cabinet last year after a power-sharing dispute. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate. Last Updated: Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

Indian billionaire Gautam Adani’s feverish push to expand his global energy and infrastructure empire has been knocked by US bribery charges, but analysts believe the tycoon will bounce back. The bombshell indictment in New York on Wednesday accusing Adani and his associates of paying more than $250mn in bribes to secure lucrative government contracts sparked a frenzied sale of stocks. Within hours, India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi demanded Adani’s arrest and Kenyan President William Ruto scrapped airport and electricity deals worth about $2.5bn. The Adani Group dismissed the bribery charge as “baseless” but Shriram Subramanian, founder of corporate governance advisory firm, InGovern Research Services, said it has “huge” implications. “They will defend themselves by appealing, or go for a settlement,” Subramanian told AFP from Bengaluru. “It is a big blow to their reputation and corporate governance practices,” he added. The meteoric rise of Adani, once the world’s second-richest man, has been dogged with controversies - and allegations he benefited from his close ties to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The conglomerate weathered previous allegations of impropriety that wiped $150bn from its market value in 2023, after a report by US short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of “brazen” corporate fraud. “Given Adani’s clout, his resources, and his access, he has the capacity to bounce back, (and) we saw that the last time around,” Michael Kugelman, South Asia Institute Director at The Wilson Center told AFP. Adani’s empire spanning coal, airports, cement, and media has interests in countries ranging from Australia to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Israel, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Nepal. But Kugelman warned that this time the challenge is “unprecedented”. “If you’re indicted by the US justice system, the seriousness and the scale is altogether different”, Kugelman said. “Hindenburg pales in comparison to what he is facing right now”. The bribery charges are a huge hurdle for key investors, and sparking grassroots demands for greater scrutiny of major projects. In neighbouring Sri Lanka, activists opposing a $442mn wind power project by Adani Green Energy have demanded the deal be stalled. “The tolerance for risk among the investors who stuck with him during Hindenburg would be much lower,” Kugelman said. Adani is India’s largest private port operator, and operates key airports including in the financial capital Mumbai and Ahmedabad, the biggest city in Modi’s home state of Gujarat. The group is also involved in vast coal and renewable energy projects across the world’s fifth-largest economy. In October, Gautam’s nephew and board member Sagar Adani - also named in the indictment - told AFP there was “no political connection” between Adani Group and Modi’s government. Hemindra Hazari, a Mumbai-based markets research analyst, said that the conglomerate, a relatively new player in key infrastructure sectors, was backed by large investors who would otherwise have been cautious because it “was considered to be close to the ruling dispensation”. “Most of them invested despite the group’s limited managerial bandwidth and experience...precisely because...it was seen to be getting highly remunerative terms...which, in any normal market-based economy, would not have been possible,” he told AFP. A “significant component” of Adani debt was raised from foreign sources, including banks and institutional investors, he said, and “everything will slow down for them for now”. India’s government is yet to comment. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi however was swift to demand Adani be arrested - but telling reporters he knew that would not happen, alleging that “Modi is protecting him”. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back saying the alleged bribery was linked to Indian states led by opposition parties. Subramanian believes it is just “a dent” to Adani’s reputation and that they will “continue to seek out and win projects across India and rest of the world”. But Kugelman warned the “reputational blows”, not only to the Adani Group but to India, were “severe”. As for the future, how the charges will influence incoming US president Donald Trump remains an “unknown”, Kugelman said. “I don’t think it’d really affect the broader India-US relationship”, he said. But he noted that Trump may eye a wily businessman like Adani “favourably”, or “leverage it for more favourable policies on tariffs”. Related Story MES conducts musical reality show amid anniversary celebrations Katara launches ‘Look Away, Look Again’ art exhibitionDigital space in Pakistan under threat: Bilawal PPP chief flays both bureaucrats and senior politicians for their lack of understanding of crucial issues SUKKUR Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has emphasised that the digital space in Pakistan is under threat, urging the youth to engage in “democratic and peaceful resistance” to secure digital rights, including high-speed internet. Addressing the 11th convocation ceremony of Sukkur IBA University on Tuesday, the PPP chairman said, “It is a matter of pride for me that this institution was established by my mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto during her second tenure as prime minister. The seed planted by her has now grown into a tree, earning recognition not only nationally but also globally.” He highlighted that students from across Pakistan and even international students from countries like SriLanka were receiving education at the university. Discussing the role of students in addressing national challenges and enhancing Pakistan’s global image, Bilawal said, “Students must utilise their knowledge for Pakistan’s development. “Today, we face challenges such as poverty, economic inequality and climate change. It is the government’s duty to control various aspects of governance, but when it attempts to overstep and control individuals or institutions, it is up to the youth to resist these efforts and assert their rights.” He reminded the audience that every generation has fought for its rights. “Democracy wasn’t handed to us as a gift; it was achieved through struggle. Generations of youth, using their education, voices, and skills, have defeated oppressors time and again. From the colonial era to today, the youth have been at the forefront.” He expressed concern about the current state of the digital space in Pakistan, calling upon the youth to engage in peaceful and democratic struggles for their digital rights. He criticised the outdated understanding of technology by decision-makers in Islamabad, stating, “How can bureaucrats in their 60s, who still use old Nokia phones, comprehend the rights of the digital generation? How would they understand WhatsApp, Netflix, or gaming? We must claim our rights from them.” He further noted the irony of how two young Pakistanis from Lahore were among the pioneers in creating the world’s first computer virus, showcasing the capabilities of Pakistani youth. Bilawal stressed the need for better internet access and data privacy protections for the younger generation. He announced plans to visit educational institutions across the country, including Sindh, to gather student feedback on proposed digital rights legislation. “Tag me on social media and share your suggestions,” he urged the youth, committing to raising awareness on the issue. Addressing climate change, he warned of severe consequences if its impact was not mitigated. “Pakistan risks devastating floods and infrastructure collapse if we fail to address climate change,” he stated. He criticised both bureaucrats and senior politicians for their lack of understanding of such crucial issues, focusing only on budgets and public sector development programmes. The PPP chairman lamented the absence of proper planning to combat climate change in the federal budget. He pointed out that Pakistan was among the top 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change. He urged developed nations to take responsibility, stating, “The industrialisation and capitalism of these countries have caused the climate crisis. While they amassed wealth, they ignored the damage inflicted on the rest of the world. Now, when others seek their fair share, they lecture us about climate change limitations. If these countries profited from industrialisation, others also have a right to that wealth. “We’re not asking for personal compensation but for funds to repair the damage they have caused.” Bilawal extended his best wishes to the graduating students, urging them to contribute to national progress through the power of education. He praised the Sindh government’s achievements in health and education, highlighting how students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Punjab, and even Sri Lanka come to Sindh for quality education at institutions like IBA Sukkur, just as patients from across Pakistan seek treatment at Sindh’s hospitals. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said that Sukkur IBA University is the premier educational institution and a hallmark of excellence. He paid homage to the late Prof Nisar Siddiqui and Syed Khursheed Shah for their unparalleled contributions to the growth and excellence of Sukkur IBA University and appreciated the efforts of current university management. The chief minister mentioned that the government of Sindh was the largest sponsor to education in the country, reflecting its unwavering dedication to fostering academic progress and development. He announced that the Sindh government would extend financial support for the establishment of a new campus in Qambar Shahdadkot, enhancing educational opportunities in the region. Sukkur IBA University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Asif Ahmed Shaikh addressed the gathering to celebrate the institution’s remarkable achievements and unwavering commitment to academic excellence. He highlighted significant milestones and outlined the university’s future aspirations. In his speech, the vice chancellor acknowledged Sukkur IBA University’s pursuit of the highest academic standards, inspired by the vision and legacy of its founding Vice Chancellor Prof Nisar Ahmed Siddiqui.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Zac Alley is being reunited with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia. Rodriguez, who was hired for his second stint as West Virginia's coach on Dec. 12, announced Sunday that he hired the 31-year-old Alley as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “Zac is one of the top young defensive coordinators in the country and has proven his ability to lead and be an innovator at different stops during his career,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “I have worked with him several seasons, and he constantly impresses me with his ability to blend schemes with his personnel and develop winning results.” Under Rodriguez, Alley spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State. Alley was the youngest defensive coordinator in the Bowl Subdivision at Louisiana-Monroe in 2021 when Rodriguez was the Warhawks’ offensive coordinator. In Alley’s lone season at Oklahoma, the Sooners ranked fifth in the Southeastern Conference in total defense, allowing 318 yards per game. “I have tremendous respect for Coach Rod, as I’ve seen how he develops players and builds a program,” Alley said. “I look forward to working with the players and doing my part to help WVU be one of the top teams in the Big 12 Conference and the nation.” Alley worked under Oklahoma coach Brent Venables as a graduate assistant at Clemson from 2015 to 2018 when Venables was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach there. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

M.E.N’s Christmas campaign to top out at £28kNone

Dec. 29—SALT LAKE CITY — Perhaps Nick Nurse landed on the perfect term while describing a bizarre officiating sequence near the end of the first half of Saturday's 76ers game against the Utah Jazz. While trying to call a timeout to challenge what the coach believed was a "clear out-of-bounds win," the Sixers were instead whistled for delay of game — twice. But that allowed Nurse to challenge two out-of-bounds calls down the stretch, which the Sixers won both times. "Weird-good," Nurse said to end his postgame news conference, before chuckling at his own word choice as he walked out of the room. Apply that to how several aspects of the game unfolded. The Sixers followed up their most beautiful win of the season — at the defending-champion Boston Celtics, on Christmas — with one of their choppiest. Their 114-111 victory over the rebuilding Jazz definitely included some weird, and just enough good. But for a team still clawing out of a horrendous, injury-riddled start to a highly anticipated 2024-25 season, the Sixers cannot be picky about how they clinched their ninth win in 12 games to up their record to 12-17. "That was a good game for us, after coming off of the Christmas Day high and the hoopla," said All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey, who finished with 32 points, six assists, and two steals. "[The Jazz] play extremely hard. I think they're better than what their [7-23] record shows. "I was really proud of how resilient we were." Nurse had gotten even more simplistic earlier in his media session, saying his team played Saturday at "two extremes" — from poor to very good — in the span of those 48 minutes. That duality was present on the defensive end. Nurse lamented that his team could not guard the ball while trailing by as many as 14 points during a bad first quarter, acknowledging a mental letdown he found surprising following a shootaround he described as "bouncy and focused." After that, the Sixers surrendered only 18 points during a game-flipping second quarter. Then that unit slipped again when the Jazz rapidly erased the Sixers' 11-point third-quarter advantage. Then the Sixers amassed enough stops down the stretch to overcome a six-point deficit and seize the lead. "It wasn't the greatest defensive performance for 48 minutes," Nurse said. "But it was really good in critical times." "Good" and "weird" also continue to exist within Paul George, the Sixers' perennial All-Star newcomer. He again struggled to generate a consistent scoring flow (13 points on 4-of-11 shooting), and uncharacteristically split two free-throw trips in the final minute. But he unleashed two of his better highlights of the season when he whipped a behind-the-back pass to Maxey for a one handed dunk and later exploded into the lane for his own slam. George also remained an all-over-the-place defender, compiling a season-high five steals. "We're just figuring out who we are," George said. "How we play. How we jell. How we mesh. And, I think, just who works well together. ... I try to find spots throughout the game where I can be aggressive and take a load off [Maxey and Joel Embiid], try to get to my shot, just so I can start to get in rhythm again." What was very good and not at all weird again Saturday? That two-man game between Maxey and Embiid, which, even amid long stretches with Embiid unavailable through the first 29 games, has swiftly recaptured what made them one of the NBA's more dangerous offensive tandems last season. Even Saturday came with some uncertainty, as Embiid entered the matchup listed as questionable to play because of a left foot sprain. Embiid rolled to the basket after screening more than usual on Saturday, helping create an action in the middle of the floor that Nurse called "so deadly." Perhaps the best evidence of those players' natural synergy, however, was Embiid's fourth-quarter desperation pass after falling to the floor to Maxey, who drilled an off-balance three-pointer at the end of the shot clock that put the Sixers up, 105-103, with about three minutes remaining. Yet Embiid and Maxey said they do not want to become too reliant on playing solely off each other. "It's a balance," said Embiid, adding that he wants to "build the same relationships" with other teammates. "We've got to find a way to kind of stabilize a little bit, as far as the record [goes]. Just got to find the right balance on working on our game and chemistry, and also doing whatever it takes to win." This remains a stretch of the season when the Sixers can continue pocketing wins. They next travel to Portland for a Monday matchup against the Trail Blazers, a team that fits the Utah mold of young and rebuilding. Wednesday's opponent, the 13-19 Sacramento Kings, abruptly fired coach Mike Brown on Friday. After that, the Sixers face a Golden State Warriors team that is 4-12 in its last 16 games. And right now, the Sixers will take victories in any form — including weird-good. "We're not worried about April," Maxey said. "We're worried about December. We've got to worry about winning games right now. We're getting better every single day. That's the main thing I think we're worried about." (c)2024 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Range Cooker Market to Hit $13.96 Billion by 2029, Driven by an 11.6% CAGR from 2022 to 2029 11-27-2024 08:24 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Data Bridge Market Research (DBMR) / PR Agency: Data Bridge Market Research (DBMR) The Range Cooker Market sector is undergoing significant transformation, with substantial growth and technological advancements expected by 2031. According to a new in-depth market research report, the sector is poised for expansion, driven by various factors such as market size, share, and emerging trends. This comprehensive report provides key insights into the Range Cooker market, exploring critical market segmentation and definitions. It highlights the essential components driving growth, offering a clear picture of the industry's trajectory. Utilizing SWOT and PESTEL analyses, the report evaluates the market's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, while also considering political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors that impact the market landscape. The study offers valuable insights into the competitive landscape, highlighting recent developments and geographical distribution across key regions. Expert competitor analysis provides a detailed understanding of market dynamics, offering strategic guidance for businesses and investors. With robust analysis and future projections, this report serves as a vital resource for stakeholders looking to capitalize on emerging opportunities and navigate challenges in the Range Cooker market. What is the projected market size & growth rate of the Range Cooker Market? Market Analysis and Insights Range Cooker Market The range cooker market is expected to be growing at a growth rate of 11.6% in the forecast period of 2022 to 2029 and would account to USD 13,963.08 million by 2029. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the factors responsible for fostering the growth of Range Cooker market. This rise in range cooker market value can be attributed to the various factors such as increased focus of the product manufacturers on product innovations, growth and expansion of consumer shoppers industry especially in the developing economies, growing popularity of e-commerce platforms especially in the developing economies and increasing personal disposable income. A range cooker is a freestanding kitchen appliance that combines an oven and a stovetop into one unit. Range cookers come in a variety of types and sizes for both commercial and household use. Range cookers are typically larger than stand-alone and built-in ovens. Range cookers with advanced features typically have inbuilt storage to keep pots and trays inside the cooker. Consumers can choose from a monochromatic or pastel colour scheme that is ideal for modern kitchens in the modern range cooker line. The worldwide range cooker market is being driven by the rising usage of household cooking appliances. Consumer purchasing power has increased as a result of economic development and urbanisation. Furthermore, throughout the projected period, the market is expected to grow due to an increase in the middle class population, as well as an increase in the number of working women. Consumers need technologically innovative and sophisticated kitchen equipment that can adapt to changing lifestyles and busy schedules in order to save time in the kitchen. Millennials are investing in range cookers in order to enjoy cooking for the rest of their lives. On the flip side, high costs associated with the Range Cooker equipped with advanced technologies will pose a major challenge to the growth of market in the long run. Fluctuations in the prices of raw materials will further derail the market growth rate. Intense pricing pressure among the vendors will yet again hamper the market growth rate. This range cooker market report provides details of new recent developments, trade regulations, import export analysis, production analysis, value chain optimization, market share, impact of domestic and localised market players, analyses opportunities in terms of emerging revenue pockets, changes in market regulations, strategic market growth analysis, market size, category market growths, application niches and dominance, product approvals, product launches, geographic expansions, technological innovations in the market. To gain more info on range cooker market contact Data Bridge Market Research for an Analyst Brief, our team will help you take an informed market decision to achieve market growth. Browse Detailed TOC, Tables and Figures with Charts which is spread across 350 Pages that provides exclusive data, information, vital statistics, trends, and competitive landscape details in this niche sector. This research report is the result of an extensive primary and secondary research effort into the Range Cooker market. It provides a thorough overview of the market's current and future objectives, along with a competitive analysis of the industry, broken down by application, type and regional trends. It also provides a dashboard overview of the past and present performance of leading companies. A variety of methodologies and analyses are used in the research to ensure accurate and comprehensive information about the Range Cooker Market. Get a Sample PDF of Report - https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-range-cooker-market Which are the driving factors of the Range Cooker market? The driving factors of the Range Cooker market include technological advancements that enhance product efficiency and user experience, increasing consumer demand driven by changing lifestyle preferences, and favorable government regulations and policies that support market growth. Additionally, rising investment in research and development and the expanding application scope of Range Cooker across various industries further propel market expansion. Range Cooker Market - Competitive and Segmentation Analysis: Global Range Cooker Market, By Product Type (Electric Range Cookers, Gas/LPG Range Cookers, Duel Fuel Range Cookers, Others), Category (Freestanding, Slide-in), Number of Burners (Single, Double, Three, Four, More than Four), Application (Household, Commercial), Distribution Channel (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets, Specialty Stores, Online, Other Distribution Channels), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Germany, France, Italy, U.K., Belgium, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Netherlands, Switzerland, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific, U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2031 How do you determine the list of the key players included in the report? With the aim of clearly revealing the competitive situation of the industry, we concretely analyze not only the leading enterprises that have a voice on a global scale, but also the regional small and medium-sized companies that play key roles and have plenty of potential growth. Which are the top companies operating in the Range Cooker market? Some of the major players covered in the range cooker market report are Amana; GE Appliances; SAMSUNG; Premier; Monogram; LG Electronics; Frigidaire; THERMADOR; Dacor, Inc.; and Whirlpool among others. Short Description About Range Cooker Market: The Global Range Cooker market is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast period, between 2024 and 2031. In 2023, the market is growing at a steady rate and with the rising adoption of strategies by key players, the market is expected to rise over the projected horizon. North America, especially The United States, will still play an important role which can not be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of Range Cooker. The market in North America is expected to grow considerably during the forecast period. The high adoption of advanced technology and the presence of large players in this region are likely to create ample growth opportunities for the market. Europe also play important roles in global market, with a magnificent growth in CAGR During the Forecast period 2024-2031. Range Cooker Market size is projected to reach Multimillion USD by 2031, In comparison to 2024, at unexpected CAGR during 2024-2031. Despite the presence of intense competition, due to the global recovery trend is clear, investors are still optimistic about this area, and it will still be more new investments entering the field in the future. This report focuses on the Range Cooker in global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application. Get a Sample Copy of the Range Cooker Report 2024 What are your main data sources? Both Primary and Secondary data sources are being used while compiling the report. Primary sources include extensive interviews of key opinion leaders and industry experts (such as experienced front-line staff, directors, CEOs, and marketing executives), downstream distributors, as well as end-users. Secondary sources include the research of the annual and financial reports of the top companies, public files, new journals, etc. We also cooperate with some third-party databases. Geographically, the detailed analysis of consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate, historical data and forecast (2024-2031) of the following regions are covered in Chapters What are the key regions in the global Range Cooker market? North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa) This Range Cooker Market Research/Analysis Report Contains Answers to your following Questions What are the global trends in the Range Cooker market? Would the market witness an increase or decline in the demand in the coming years? What is the estimated demand for different types of products in Range Cooker? What are the upcoming industry applications and trends for Range Cooker market? What Are Projections of Global Range Cooker Industry Considering Capacity, Production and Production Value? What Will Be the Estimation of Cost and Profit? What Will Be Market Share, Supply and Consumption? What about Import and Export? Where will the strategic developments take the industry in the mid to long-term? What are the factors contributing to the final price of Range Cooker? What are the raw materials used for Range Cooker manufacturing? How big is the opportunity for the Range Cooker market? How will the increasing adoption of Range Cooker for mining impact the growth rate of the overall market? How much is the global Range Cooker market worth? What was the value of the market In 2020? Who are the major players operating in the Range Cooker market? Which companies are the front runners? Which are the recent industry trends that can be implemented to generate additional revenue streams? What Should Be Entry Strategies, Countermeasures to Economic Impact, and Marketing Channels for Range Cooker Industry? Customization of the Report Can I modify the scope of the report and customize it to suit my requirements? Yes. Customized requirements of multi-dimensional, deep-level and high-quality can help our customers precisely grasp market opportunities, effortlessly confront market challenges, properly formulate market strategies and act promptly, thus to win them sufficient time and space for market competition. Detailed TOC of Global Range Cooker Market Insights and Forecast to 2031 Introduction Market Segmentation Executive Summary Premium Insights Market Overview Range Cooker Market By Type Range Cooker Market By Function Range Cooker Market By Material Range Cooker Market By End User Range Cooker Market By Region Range Cooker Market: Company Landscape SWOT Analysis Company Profiles Continued... https://newstrendshubs.blogspot.com/2024/11/cryptocurrency-banking-market-growth.html https://newstrendshubs.blogspot.com/2024/11/oilseeds-market-insights-2024-2031.html https://newstrendshubs.blogspot.com/2024/11/induction-cookware-market-trends.html Data Bridge Market Research: Today's trends are a great way to predict future events! Data Bridge Market Research is a market research and consulting company that stands out for its innovative and distinctive approach, as well as its unmatched resilience and integrated methods. We are dedicated to identifying the best market opportunities, and providing insightful information that will help your business thrive in the marketplace. Data Bridge offers tailored solutions to complex business challenges. This facilitates a smooth decision-making process. Data Bridge was founded in Pune in 2015. It is the product of deep wisdom and experience. Contact Us: Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 614 591 3140 UK: +44 845 154 9652 APAC: +653 1251 975 Email:- corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com This release was published on openPR.

Grad assistant coach suits up to fill QB void, sets Southern Illinois record with 7 TD passesKevin O'Leary calls Kamala Harris a 'broken' candidate with 'no compassion' in brutal on-air critique

Trump's TikTok love raises stakes in battle over app's fate

Flying taxi maker Lillium lays off 1,000 workers and ceases operationsThought just 17, Donald Trump’s granddaughter appears to relish her role as an aspiring, up-and-coming MAGA influencer , as she shares slickly produced videos on social media about the fun she has hanging out with her beloved, president-elect “grandpa.” But there’s only so much that Kai Trump can do to soften the image of a man who has been compared by critics to history’s most dangerous fascists and who regularly hurls insults and makes profane remarks. His opponent in the election, Kamala Harris, received some 74 million votes to his 76 million. With her latest video published Tuesday, the teen golf prodigy also showed “grandpa” looking a bit out of his element while a guest at Elon Musk’s SpaceX launch last week. In one particularly “cringe-worthy” moment of Kai Trump’s behind-the-scenes video, Trump is seen sending Musk into “an awkward spiral” after he asks him whether a rocket booster can be reused — after it has crashed into Gulf of Mexico in a fireball, the Daily Beast reported . Last week, Trump joined Musk, his top campaign donor and his purported new expert advisor in government efficiency, to watch the latest test flight of his Starship rocket system, the Daily Beast reported. For the occasion, Trump was joined by Kai Trump and her good friend, as well as Kai Trump’s father, Donald Trump Jr., and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Musk, who also is a NASA contractor, planned to show Trump a repeat of the “incredible maneuver” that one of his Starship rocket ships executed in October, the Daily Beast said. That’s when giant mechanical arms, sticking out of the launch tower, successfully “caught” the rocket’s “Super Heavy” booster, after it performed the precise moves needed to return to the launch site, SpaceNews.com reported. For the Nov. 19 Starship launch, the rocket successfully lifted off from the SpaceX Starbase test site in Boca Chica, Texas, at 5 p.m., SpaceNews.com reported. Its booster separated from the vehicle’s upper stage about two minutes and 45 seconds after liftoff. The booster started to return to the launch site but, a little more than a minute later, controllers announced “booster offshore divert,” meaning that the booster would not return to the launch pad but instead crash into the Gulf of Mexico. Making the boosters reusable has been a key part of SpaceX’s efforts to cut the cost of each $100 million Starship flight in half, the Daily Beast reported. Kai Trump’s video, which she also shares as a YouTube vlog, caught the moments when Musk told Trump, “We had some concerns about the tower so it was commanded to land out at sea.” In the video, which shows Kai Trump standing nearby, Trump appeared to be uncharacteristically quiet and perhaps a bit awe-struck, as he clearly missed the meaning of what the billionaire was saying. That’s because Trump responded by muttering, “amazing.” The former reality TV star then asked Musk, “Can they use that again? Can they get it from the sea?” Musk appeared to do a double take and to even give the president elect some “side-eye,” the Daily Beast said. Musk awkwardly responded: “Uhh, it’s going to be. ... it‘s ... it’s probably gonna blow up. That’s my guess.” Cruz, standing next to Trump, jumped in to help cover up for Trump’s question by getting Musk to explain that he already has “better” versions of the booster in production, with one ready to use. “Well, there you go,” Cruz said. Trump actually said little else that day, according to Kai Trump’s video and to other news reports. A report in The Telegraph affirmed the view that Trump’s outing with Musk to the SpaceX rocket launch was “awkward” for both men, even as they’ve spent the weeks since the election practically “joined at the hip” at Mar-a-Lago. Trump indeed looked like a “fish out of water” and appeared to be intimidated by Musk during the Starship test flight, according to Darren Stanton, a former police officer and body language expert. Trump showed none of his “alpha male persona” and “power gestures” during the event, Stanton told The Telegraph. “Trump was very uneasy... usually he comes over as this alpha male, the most empowered, most powerful person in the room. I think he’s quite intimidated by Musk,” Stanton said. “He was out of his depth – his hands were just by his side like a mannequin.” It’s hard to believe that Kai Trump intended for her “grandpa” to be seen looking “out of his depth.” As Daily Beast entertainment writer Eboni Boykin-Patterson said in another report , Kai Trump, whose mother is Vanessa Trump, has taken on a role in Trumpworld once filled by her aunt, Ivanka Trump. Since Kai Trump spoke at the Republican National Convention — to “show the side of my grandpa that people don’t often see” — she has become the photogenic young female relative who tries to “sanitize” Trump’s image, Boykin-Patterson also said. Earlier in her video, Kai Trump poked gentle fun at her grandfather — while also giving her some 2.6 million followers some of the “aspirational” content that social media users look for, Boykin-Patterson wrote. As the teenager giddily showed off the luxurious accommodations on Trump’s private jet, she and her friend also spent a few moments recording a TikTok clip , in which they mimicked her grandfather’s golf swing and his meme’d campaign dance moves, set to the Village People’s “YMCA.” The Daily Beast said the result of Kai Trump’s posts is “a simpler, smiley perspective” on Trump, whom she describes as a ” hard worker” for “all Americans.” With her followers, the teenager also shares slideshows of her 78-year-old grandfather, sporting big smiles. “And if that’s all you see of this agreeable, doting grandfather, you’d think he’d never tried to overturn an election,” Boykin-Patterson wrote.Okpebholo, IGP commend community policing initiative in Edo

McDermott, AFC East-leading Bills refreshed coming out of bye week, and looking ahead to host 49ers

Kylian Mbappe saw a penalty saved as Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Wednesday to inflict a third Champions League defeat in five matches on the holder. Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored the goals in the second half as the Reds maintained their perfect record to return to the top of the table. Mohamed Salah also fired wide from the spot, but it mattered little as Liverpool secured a 17th win in Arne Slot’s first 19 games in charge. Slot has already achieved what Jurgen Klopp could not as Liverpool boss by slaying the Spanish giants. Liverpool had a score to settle with Madrid, which was unbeaten in eight previous meetings between the sides, including Champions League finals against Klopp’s men in 2018 and 2022. The defeat sends Carlo Ancelotti’s side tumbling down to 24th in the table. ALSO READ: Dortmund beats Dinamo Zagreb 3-0 to stay firmly on qualification course Only the top 24 progress to the knockout stage, with the top eight advancing directly to the last 16. Liverpool is well on course to do just that, and the confidence coursing through a side also eight points clear at the top of the Premier League was in evidence throughout in front of a highly-charged Anfield crowd. Madrid was hamstrung by a lengthy injury list and made the trip to England without Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba. Young centre-back Raul Asencio has been pressed into action by those absences, and he made a vital goal-line clearance in the fourth minute. Darwin Nunez was sent in behind the Madrid defence by Salah, and after his shot produced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, Asencio reacted smartly to prevent the rebound from bouncing off him and into his own net. Courtois was Liverpool’s scourge with a man-of-the-match performance in the final two years ago, as Madrid prevailed 1-0 in Paris. The Belgian was at his best again as he blocked another big Nunez chance from point-blank range as the Liverpool pressure built without reward before the break. Courtois was in sparkling form again at the start of the second period to parry Conor Bradley’s downward header. But Liverpool was not to be denied as Bradley was this time the provider for Mac Allister, who manufactured the space for a shot into the far corner on 52 minutes. The visitor was relying on Mbappe for a moment of magic in the absence of Vinicius, but the Frenchman was well-marshalled by his international teammate Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. His chance to silence his critics arrived on the hour mark when Andy Robertson was harshly adjudged to have tripped Lucas Vazquez inside the area. Caoimhin Kelleher has excelled in the absence of the injured Alisson Becker and leapt to his left to save Mbappe’s spot-kick. Salah sparked a furore ahead of the game by declaring his disappointment with Liverpool’s failure to offer him a contract renewal. The Egyptian has been in sparkling form this season, and his pace and trickery fooled Ferland Mendy into a mistimed challenge. Salah gave Madrid a lifeline by firing his penalty off the outside of the post. Liverpool had to wait just six more minutes for the cushion of a second goal as substitute Gakpo rose highest from a corner to power a header past Courtois. Comments Related Topics UEFA Champions League 2024-25 / UEFA Champions League / Real Madrid / Liverpool / Mohamed Salah / Cody Gakpo / Alexis Mac Allister / Kylian Mbappe Latest on Sportstar

By David E. Sanger and Lisa Friedman, New York Times Service Over the past two days, President-elect Donald Trump has made clear that he has designs for American territorial expansion, declaring that the United States has both security concerns and commercial interests that can best be addressed by bringing the Panama Canal and Greenland under American control or outright ownership. Trump’s tone has had none of the trolling jocularity that surrounded his repeated suggestions in recent weeks that Canada should become America’s “51st state,” including his social media references to the country’s beleaguered prime minister as “Governor Justin Trudeau.” Instead, while naming a new ambassador to Denmark — which controls Greenland’s foreign and defense affairs — Trump made clear on Sunday that his first-term offer to buy the landmass could, in the coming term, become a deal the Danes cannot refuse. He appears to covet Greenland both for its strategic location at a time when the melting of Arctic ice is opening new commercial and naval competition and for its reserves of rare earth minerals needed for advanced technology. “For purposes of National Security and Freedom throughout the World,” Trump wrote on social media, “the United States of America feels that the ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity.” On Saturday evening, he had accused Panama of price-gouging American ships traversing the canal, and suggested that unless that changed, he would abandon the Jimmy Carter-era treaty that returned all control of the canal zone to Panama. “The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous,” he wrote, just before an increase in the charges scheduled for Jan. 1. “This complete ‘rip-off’ of our country will immediately stop.” He went on to express worry that the canal could fall into the “wrong hands,” an apparent reference to China, the second-largest user of the canal. A Hong Kong-based firm controls two ports near the canal, but China has no control over the canal itself. Not surprisingly, the government of Greenland immediately rejected Trump’s demands, as it did in 2019, when he first floated the idea. “Greenland is ours,” Prime Minister Mute B. Egede said in a statement. “We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom.” The Danish prime minister’s office was more circumspect, writing in a statement that the government was “looking forward to working with the new administration” and offering no further comment on Trump’s remarks. After Trump brought up the Panama Canal again in a speech on Sunday, Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, said in a video that “every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zones is part of Panama, and it will continue to be.” He added: “Our country’s sovereignty and independence are not negotiable.” But the president-elect’s statements — and the not-so-subtle threats behind them — were another reminder that his version of “America First” is not an isolationist creed. His aggressive interpretation of the phrase evokes the expansionism, or colonialism, of President Theodore Roosevelt, who cemented control of the Philippines after the Spanish-American War. And it reflects the instincts of a real estate developer who suddenly has the power of the world’s largest military to back up his negotiating strategy. Trump has often suggested that he does not always see the sovereignty of other nations’ borders as sacrosanct. When Russia invaded Ukraine, his first response was not a condemnation of the blatant land grab, but rather the observation that President Vladimir Putin’s move was an act of “genius.” Even now, as Trump seeks a deal to end the war in Ukraine, he has never said that the country’s borders must be restored, a key demand of the United States and NATO — he has only promised a “deal” to end the fighting. In the cases of Greenland and Panama, both commercial and national security interests are at play. Trump’s desire for Greenland was made explicit in the first term, when a wealthy New York friend of his, Ronald S. Lauder, the New York cosmetics heir, put the idea in his head. In the Trump White House in 2019, the National Security Council was suddenly delving into the details of how the United States would pull off a land acquisition of that size. Trump kept pressing the point with Denmark, which consistently rebuffed him. Trump was not the first president to make the case: Harry S. Truman wanted to buy Greenland after World War II, as part of a Cold War strategy for boxing out Soviet forces. Trump can make a parallel argument, especially as Russia, China and the United States jockey for control of Arctic routes for commercial shipping and naval assets. Arctic experts did not dismiss Trump’s Greenland bid as a joke. “Not that many people are laughing about it now,” said Marc Jacobsen, an associate professor at the Royal Danish Defense College in Denmark who focuses on Arctic security. Jacobsen noted that the reaction in Denmark to Trump’s latest bid had been one of fury (one Danish politician called it “an unusually strange way to be an ally”). But, he said, Greenlanders — who have long sought independence — may seek to use Trump’s interest as an opportunity to further strengthen economic ties with the United States. Since 2009, Greenland has had the right to declare its independence, but the vast territory of about 56,000 people is still heavily dependent on Denmark and has never chosen to pursue that path. Trump’s interest could give Greenland an opening for more U.S. investments, including in tourism or rare earth mining, he said. “Was it crazy when the U.S. acquired Alaska? Was it crazy when the U.S. built the Panama Canal?” asked Sherri Goodman, a former Pentagon official and a senior fellow with the Wilson Center Polar Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Goodman, whose book “Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security” centers in part on the Arctic, said the United States did have a strong interest in ensuring that China in particular does not develop a strong presence in Greenland. China’s ambitions in the Arctic have grown, and in 2018 it laid out plans to build infrastructure and develop shipping lanes opened by climate change. Goodman said the United States should continue to prevent China from gaining a foothold in the doorstep to North America, but said Greenlanders must decide their own fate. “We want to have all those territories proximate to our own mainland territory to protect us and also to prevent an adversary from using it to our strategic disadvantage,” Goodman said. “On the other hand, there is international law and international order and sovereignty, and Greenland is still a part of Denmark.” When it comes to Panama, Trump may also hold a distant personal grudge. In 2018, Panamanian police officers ousted the Trump Organization from the Trump International Hotel in Panama City after a protracted legal battle between the president-elect’s family and the majority owner of the property. The Trump name subsequently came down. The company had held a contract to manage the property. David L. Goldwyn, who served at the State Department under Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, noted that Greenland has tremendous undeveloped natural resources, including more than 43 of the 50 so-called critical rare earth elements used to make electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean technology. “Certainly if Greenland chose to develop these resources, it would provide a significant alternative to China, although it is China’s capacity to process those minerals which gives it its current advantage,” he said. But Goldwyn said that in addition to Denmark’s sovereignty, Trump might find that Greenland’s Indigenous communities do not want mining and resource extraction as much as he does. “It is highly unlikely resource extraction could be forced on an unwilling population,” he said. “A more fruitful path might be to collaborate with the Danish government and Greenland’s population on ways to safely and sustainably develop those resources.” This article originally appeared in The New York Times . Extra News Alerts Get breaking updates as they happen. Be civil. Be kind.NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — What began as a childhood hobby more than six decades ago has led to what might be Africa’s largest butterfly collection in a suburb of Kenya’s capital. Steve Collins, 74, was born and raised in western Kenya. By the age of 5, he was fascinated by butterflies and started building a collection that has grown to more than 4.2 million, representing hundreds of species. “My parents encouraged us to look for butterflies after visiting the Congo and were gifted a trapping net by some friends,” Collins said. “By the time I was 15 years old, I was already visiting other countries like Nigeria to study more about butterflies.” During his 20-year career as an agronomist, Collins dedicated his free time to research. He established the African Butterfly Research Institute in 1997. Now, running out of space and time, he hopes to hand it over to the next generation. On his 1.5 acres (0.6 hectare) of land, hundreds of indigenous trees and flowering bushes form a well-knit forest. Hundreds of butterflies dance from one flower to another, at times landing on Collins’ hand. His collection is private, although it was initially open to the public when he ran it as an education center between 1998 and 2003. Collins has 1.2 million butterflies from across Africa delicately pinned in frames and stored in rows of shelves, with another 3 million in envelopes. “They need to be kept in dark spaces,” he said. “The form of storage also ensures the dried butterflies are not eaten by other insects, parasites and predators. We also ensure we apply insecticides once a year to keep them safe.” Julian Bayliss, an ecologist specializing in Africa and a visiting professor at Oxford Brookes University, said he has collected butterflies for Collins over two decades. “There is a large part of that collection that is completely irreplaceable because a large part of Africa’s habitat is being destroyed,” Bayliss said. Africa is vulnerable to climate change, with periods of prolonged drought and serious flooding destroying forests and other butterfly habitats. Bayliss suggested digitizing the collection to make it accessible worldwide. Whoever takes it over “needs to be an institution that is well-founded, well-funded and secure,” he said. Scott Miller, an entomologist at the Smithsonian Institution, met Collins almost 30 years ago. He said such collections provide critical information that could show environmental changes over 60 years. “These physical specimens, you can actually keep going back to them to get new layers of information as you learn more or you get a different technology or you get different questions,” he said. Collins is concerned that soon he will no longer be able to sustain his research. He said his most prized butterfly costs $8,000 — which he keeps from sight, concerned about possible theft — and hopes to sell the collection to an individual or research institution. The costs of running his institute are high. An annual budget posted in 2009 on the Lepidopterists’ Society of Africa website was $200,000. Collins estimates that the specimens and other assets are worth $8 million. “This has been my hobby for decades, and I can’t put a price on what I have done so far. I’m currently seeking to ensure the species are in safe hands when I’m out of this world,” he said. ___ Associated Press journalist Khaled Kazziha in Nairobi, Kenya, contributed to this report.